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An Act To Update and Revise the Laws Governing the Maine Arts Commission
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 27 MRSA §405, as amended by PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. V, §4, is further amended to read:
§ 405.Hearings; contracts
The commissionMaine Arts Commission is authorized and empowered to hold public and private hearings, to enter into contracts, within the limit of funds available, with individuals or organizations, and institutions for services furthering the educational objectives of the commission's programs; to enter into contracts, within the limit of funds available, with local and regional associations for cooperative endeavors furthering the educational objectives of the commission's programs; to establish an endowment fund; to accept gifts, contributions and bequests of funds from individuals, foundations, corporations and other organizations or institutions for the purpose of furthering the educational objectives of the commission's programsmission; to make and sign any agreements and to do and perform any acts that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Any funds, if given as an endowment, must be invested by the Treasurer of State according to the laws governing the investment of trust funds. As determined by the Director of the Maine Arts Commission, with the approval of the commission, the endowment's principal and interest may be used to further the commission's mission, as long as the endowment funds are used only for the purposes for which the endowment is established in accordance with the intent of the donor. The commission may request and receive from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the State such assistance and data as necessary to carry out its powers and duties.
Sec. 2. 27 MRSA §408, as amended by PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. B, §36, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 27 MRSA §410, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 532, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 27 MRSA §411, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 762, §1, is amended to read:
§ 411.Arts Education Program
The Maine Arts Commission shall establish the Arts in Education Program, referred to in this subchapter as the "program," to provide support for planning and implementing artist residencies and related school and community arts programs to increase arts education opportunities in the State. The program is designed on a 3-year rotating basis. The program allows a public school system to participate by developing a comprehensive arts education plan, activities to implement the plan and an evaluation of the plan."the program."
Sec. 5. 27 MRSA §412, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 762, §1, is amended to read:
§ 412.Duties of the Maine Arts Commission
To accomplish the goals of the program, theThe Maine Arts Commission shall provide leadership in developing and sustaining an agenda for arts education throughout the State in partnership with federal, state and local entities. The commission shall lead efforts to make the arts a part of the core education for all students from kindergarten to grade 12 and to increase arts opportunities outside the school setting. The commission shall:
 
1.  Funding.     Provide funding to 1/3 of the schools in the State each year on a 3-year rotating basis;
 
2.  Professional artists.     Use professional artists in developing a process for achieving learning results;
 
3.  School systems.     Invite school systems, through their superintendents, to participate in the program;
 
4. Goals.   Work with school systems to identify common education goals;
 
5.  Training; information; seed money.     Provide training, information and seed money to each local arts education committee composed of school personnel and residents of the school district to develop a 3-year plan to increase arts education opportunities; and
 
6.  Curriculum; projects.     Promote artist residencies, professional development for teachers, curriculum development and advocacy and information projects.
 
7.  Research.     Conduct research on arts education for elementary and secondary schools; and
 
8.  Programs.     Operate arts education and outreach programs to combine the presentation of art with arts education.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 126th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.